Mass. population increased 1.5 percent since 2010

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts is enjoying a modest growth spurt, but not enough to win back a seat in Congress.

The latest U.S. Census Bureau numbers put the state's population at more than 6.6 million, up by more than 98,000 residents from April 2010.

That 1.5 percent growth puts Massachusetts well ahead of the rest of the Northeast. New York was next with 1 percent growth and New Hampshire and New Jersey both had 0.8 percent increases.

Massachusetts still trails the national increase of 1.7 percent since 2010.

State Secretary William Galvin said Wednesday that the increase is encouraging, but probably isn't enough to win back a Congressional seat.

Seats in the U.S. House are apportioned based on population and a prior population decrease cost Massachusetts a seat, as of this year's election. The state now has nine.